Great Neck Schools encourage disability students strive for more than diploma

Adam Lidgett

The Great Neck Board of Education voted Monday to change the language of their policy on students with disabilities to go beyond just getting a diploma.

“The single revision modification of language in introductory paragraph is to clarify the primary focus of special education as addressing the needs of individual student,” board Trustee Susan Healy said. 

The primary focus on special education under the board’s new language is to “ensure the individual needs of students with disabilities are addressed in order to maximize their potential for future success.” 

The previous focus called for the district “to ensure that capable students with disabilities meet local and Regents diploma requirements.” 

The board also did a first reading to amend the policy on the use of the school district’s credit card. Policies go through three readings before adopted. 

After a recommendation from the district’s internal auditor, the policy on credit card use will be changed to reflect the current procedure on authorization of the card’s use, according to the agenda. The policy states that the assistant superintendent for business and the director of transportation are responsible for reviewing all monthly credit card statements. 

School Superintendent Tom Dolan said the district only has one American Express credit card that is required for the use of E-ZPass and is used on very rare occasions. 

“A couple of alarms could go off when we talk about credit cards,” Dolan said. “The board does receive a bill every month and they approve it every month. Rest assure there is only one card.” 

The policy also states that the monthly credit card statement is reviewed by the superintendent and forwarded to the board. 

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